Thompson a sleeper?

by CloudyEyes on Jun 26, 2008 11:54 PM PDT

Thinking back on tonight's first round Kings pick, the immediate reaction of Kings fans has mostly been "Who's that guy?" or just clear outrage. Maybe Petrie has once again pulled a hidden gem out of the NBA Draft. After all, no one knew about Peja or Martin when the Kings decided to pick them. So, after several beers, I've calmed down and decided to convince myself that Jason Thompson will also be one of those hidden gems.

Thompson did average about 20 points, 12 boards, and about 2.5 blocked shots during his senior year, but a common criticism is that Thompson played in a lower division, thus, weaker competition. He was, however, matched up against Michael Beasley on Nov 25, 07, when Rider played against Kansas State.

In the game vs Kansas State, Thompson scored 24 points on 9 of 14 shooting and grabbed 7 boards in 39 minutes of play, matched up against Beasley. Beasley had 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting and 10 boards that game.

Complete Boxscore of Kansas vs Rider

Also, MSNBC wrote a long article on Thompson, saying Thompson might be the top sleeper in the 2008 NBA Draft.

So, before jumping to conclusions, I'm going to let this one ride out. Maybe it was in the best interest of the Kings to draft a solid player who's shown he can provide big numbers, rather than a talent with high risk.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The Kings have done a good job over the years drafting sleepers and going against the grain. Peja and Martin are the most notable ones. J-Will was solid before injuries depleted his career. Garcia’s solid. And for some reason, everyone here fails to mention the beasts that Gerald Wallace and Hedo Turkoglu have become. As for Douby, the jury is still out. Not only has he been playing out of position and typically, it takes at least 3 yeas to know if a player will “get it” or not.

Coming in, we needed another big man who can block/rebound and have a decent overall offense, which we got. We needed a PG, which we got and more tough athletic defensive minded players off the bench, which we also may have got (which thinking about the Artest to opt or not opt situation, maybe prove even more valuable). They’re not glamor picks, but I think we filled our needs.

For all the talk about passing up on CDR and Chalmers (I was incensed too), they slipped all the way into the second round so it obviously wasn’t just Petrie.

I can’t wait for pre-season.

by Reggie Nation on Jun 27, 2008 1:00 AM PDT reply actions

The jury is still out on Hawes

But not on Douby. Overall point is solid though – Petrie knows how to draft. Similar to last year, let’s wait and see what he’s putting together before we blast him.

"Boo Lakers! Boo Kobe! Go Kings! Go Giants! Boo Dodgers!" - my 5 year-old daughter - 4/15/08

by otis29 on Jun 27, 2008 5:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Disagree

Douby has never actually played consistent minutes. I’m with you that in the limited time Douby has played, it’s been 4 bad games to every good one, but I still think he should be given a month of 20 minute games to prove himself.

by Carl on Jun 27, 2008 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions

This is where I take issue

According to most accounts that I’ve read, Thompson seems like he could be just what the doctor ordered in terms of slaying the Hydra on offense. And his shot-blocking and rebounding numbers look great. Even so, every breakdown of his game that I’ve read (Admittedly, I’ve never seen the guy play) specifically mentions that he is a poor defender. Since shot blocking and rebounding are often used as indicators of a big man’s defensive ability, it seems fair to assume that his one-on-one defense against other big men and his team defense must be notably poor. If Thompson and Hawes are the starting big-man combo of the future, where will the interior defense come from? Which one of these guys will guard the Duncans, Shaqs, Gasols, Odens, Bynums, Amares, etc. looming in the West? If the answer is 2010 free agent x, then we just used a lottery pick on a non-starter in what appears to be a talent-rich draft. Regardless, I believe in Geoff’s ability to judge talent. I just hope that he saw something in the raw skills and coachability of Thompson that made him believe that he could become a good defender and wasn’t just lusting for a PF that could rebound AND hit a fifteen footer.

Now we just need to find a starting PG. I think J-Will might be on the market…

by furious.d on Jun 27, 2008 1:33 AM PDT reply actions

Not Worried

I’m not too much worried about the mans defense right now. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in a mid-major! Granted, he wasnt in the Pac 10 or ACC, but he wasnt playing against Sac State either.

At 6’11 and 250, he gives the Kings a big boy RIGHT NOW. That was my biggest fear about drafting a Randolph etc, was that they were not “NBA Ready.” I wouldnt be surprised at all if this mound found his way into the starting lineup before the All-Star game and Theus delegates either Moore or Miller back to being servicible bench players (where they both belong!.) I see no reason why this man and Hawes can’t develope together into a formitable frontline in the next 2 years.

And furious, you mention the bigs in the West . Bynum (hasnt proved it quite yet to me) scares me a bit in the future and Amare is a beast, but the other fellas you mentioned don’t exactly frighten me. I see no reason why Thompson and Hawes can’t hang with the rest of the fellas in a year or 2. Shaq has another year (max) at playing at a decent level. Duncan is on the decline and has roughly 2 more dominant years. Pao is a softly, and despite being extremely skilled, let Powe/Perkins and Posey manhandle him in and around the paint.

However, I REALLY like the idea of bringing J-Will back. I think that Petrie is working the lines to get a PG here. I have a feeling either Salmons or Garicia are dangling as bait over the NBA seas right about now.

by Hoops916 on Jun 27, 2008 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Poor Defender?

According to Jason Thompson’s nba.com draft profile, he was the defensive player of the year his junior and senior seasons in the MAAC conference. Yes, he was playing against lesser talent but I wouldn’t label anyone a “poor defender” after they were named defensive player of the year in their conference two years in a row.

by blako on Jun 27, 2008 3:08 AM PDT reply actions

Ricky Minard, Ricky Minard!!!!--anyone remember him, I thought he was gonna be able to play

I wanted to adopt, but all the good looking babies were taken

by joeytothelimit on Jun 27, 2008 7:46 AM PDT reply actions

Ha!

I liked him better than Martin. Brilliant!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 27, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Kmart approves

Apparently Kevin Martin thinks this is a GREAT pick. After seeing Thompson work out Kmart was VERY impressed. The more I look into him (2nd leading rebounder in the country, a legit 6’10”, a grown-up)
The more I wonder if GP hasn’t ignored the hype players and maybe really found something – and filled a real need.
I still wish we’d made anothe move or two but maybe something is still coming(?)

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jun 27, 2008 12:04 PM PDT reply actions

Poor Defense????

Where is anyone reading that Thompson is a poor defender. He was twice named the MAAC defensive player of the year – mid major perhaps but if he were twice the defender of the year he must have good skills in that area. I too saw the Youtube where some hot girl was interviewing him – seems like a good guy. I’m thinking sleeper here. I’ve also read he comes from a good family and did well in school so unless Artest corrupts him he sounds like a drama free, hard working, 6’11 PF who will feel the need to work hard to prove himself. That doesn’t sound half bad to me… but we’ll see.

by sacfan29 on Jun 27, 2008 2:03 PM PDT reply actions

Either Thompson isn't that good defensively

Or everyone in the MAAC licks a donkey’s sweat off their balls before every game and it’s distracting. I hardly doubt the former, and I hardly doubt the latter, so therefore there must be an alternative answer. I’m not sure I”m smart enough to figure out what that is.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 27, 2008 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions

hate to rain on your parade.

But the Martin pick was only a couple of slots above where at least one mock draft had him going – hardly a diamond in the rough mined by Petrie.

still Swish Fan #1.

by ChrisCEIT on Jun 27, 2008 2:40 PM PDT reply actions

Good Omen

So was Thompson. He was projected in, I believe, at least two mocks going to GS at #14.

Let’s hope the comparisons hold in other areas as well.

by smgmatt on Jun 27, 2008 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

At 26 that's a diamond in the rought regardless of the mock

Apparently media hype is about what you know. (NIck Swisher sucks.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 27, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Poor defense

I thought I had read it in two places, but now I can only find DraftExpress calling him an “exrtemely poor all-around defender.” I’m not trying to dog the kid, or even challenge Petrie’s wisdom. It seems like Thompson could be a solid player, and lord knows I have fallen in love with plenty of Kings that haven’t played a lick of defense. I’m just wondering publicly if he is capable of playing interior defense at a high level, which I believe is very important and I don’t see coming from Hawes.

As for being named the Defensive Player of the Year twice in the MAAC, I’m not sure I put much stock in it. I just graduated from a “mid major” school (Big West) where our top guy was named the conference Player of the Year and I know that his name will never see an NBA roster. That’s no evidence that Thompson can’t defend in the NBA, I’m just taking the awards with a grain of salt.

To sum up: I have every reason to believe that JT will be a good player, but I worry about the future of the Kings’ interior defense, which I will continue to do until he proves my concerns unfounded against NBA opposition. And yeah, Nick Swisher sucks.

by furious.d on Jun 28, 2008 3:11 AM PDT reply actions

JT defense

One of Rider’s troubles is that in JT’s last 3 years Rider had 3 different point guards until this year (freshman Robinson) none were very good on the ball defenders, the opposing teams point guard would penetrate at will causing JT to help and pulling him away from his man. There were very few games that I watched JT play where he would get beat if matched up one on one with his defensive assignment. Jason has developed very good timing on his shot block and he wants to play defense. His father is a big fan of defense and has taught both Jason and Ryan that if they want to play they must play defense.

by Beagle12 on Jun 28, 2008 10:19 AM PDT reply actions

So -

Thompson’s success is dependent on our PG playing defense? He’s so screwed. :)

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 28, 2008 10:37 AM PDT reply actions

not at all

I am saying at Rider JT would spend more time on help defense than guarding his man. JT will be a good defender for the Kings

by Beagle12 on Jun 28, 2008 1:25 PM PDT reply actions

I was just funnin'

There is no “D’ in Mike Bibby, and only a lower case “d” in Beno Udrih. Our bigs have been dealing with the situation that you mention for years.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 28, 2008 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Well...

Grammatically, there’s only a little “d” in TJ Ford & Raymond Felton, and no “D” in Kirk Hinrich or Kyle Lowry.

I guess that means we’d better sign Chris Duhon right quick, before anyone else catches on to this statistical breakthrough!

by smgmatt on Jun 28, 2008 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

LAST IN REBOUNDING

Or nearly. Thats what we were last year. Rebounds matter on defense and creates more offensive touches. How many games did we lose by 7 or fewer points because we couldn’t get the rebound at the end of games? He’s got the size. If Thompson can drag us out of the cellar in rebounding. . . .

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jun 29, 2008 2:45 AM PDT reply actions

Hawes

I don’t think the Jury is still out on him. He looks to be AT LEAST a servicable back-up center in this league. Will he be more? (?) He clearly has the desire. He was only 19 and big men. . . . well you all know.

But I think he’s shown that he’s almost certainly a player of some as yet unknown value at this level.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jun 29, 2008 2:51 AM PDT reply actions